FUNCTIONS IN REPORTED SPEECH

There are several ways of reporting words in any language: literally or getting the main
idea. For example:
“Can I help you?” Peter asked the old lady.

You can report Peter’s words like this:

 “Peter asked the old lady if he could help her” or

 “Peter offered to help the old lady”.

The second sentence is more logical as we get the main idea of the original sentence,
that is, that Peter wanted to help the lady .And it is also shorter.
The only problem is to identify the type of sentence and the reporting verb to use.
Here are the most common types for you to learn:

Requests: Notice these ways of asking for things or to do things.

 Can I have a glass of water, please?
 Could I have some more coffee?
 Can you pass me that magazine?

 Could you lend me some money?

 Do you think you could get me some aspirin?

Use the verb “ask for” to report this type of sentences:

 “He asked (me) for some water, some more coffee, some money, etc”.

Offers: Notice these ways of offering things or to do things for someone.

 Would you like a cup of tea?

 Would you like something to eat?

 Would you like me to help you?

 Would you like me to close the window?

 Shall I carry your bag?

 Shall I get you some aspirin?

 I’ll lend you some money.

 I’ll do the washing up if you like.

Use the verb “offer” followed either by a noun phrase or by “to” and an infinitive:
 He offered (me) a cup of tea, something to eat, some aspirin or He offered to
help me, to close the window, to do the washing up, to lend me some money…
Suggestions: People say these structures when they want to suggest something to do.
 Let’s go to the cinema!

 Shall we go to the cinema?

 Let’s have a party!

 Why don’t we stay at home?

 How about playing tennis/ a game of tennis?

 We could go out later.

 We could play tennis tomorrow.

Use the verb “suggest” followed by an “ing” verb to report these sentences. Ex.
 He suggested that we go/going to the cinema, having a party, staying at home,
going out later, etc.

Invitations: If someone invites you to the cinema they would probably say
 Would you like to go to the cinema tonight?

 Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?

And you could report his/her words like this:

 He/she invited me to the cinema or He/she asked me if I wanted to go to …

Promises: If someone says something like

 I’ll love you forever!

 I won’t do it again!
You can report their words like this:
 He promised to love me forever or that he would love me forwever.
 He promised not to do it again or that he wouldn’t do it again.

Advice: When people want to give you some advice they will probably say things like
these
 If I were you, I wouldn’t/would buy that car

 You should eat more vegetables!

You can say afterwards:

 My mother/my friend advised me to/not to buy, eat, etc.

Apologies: If someone tries to apologise for something he/she will probably say
 I’m sorry for saying those words/ coming home so late!

Then you could say

 He/she apologised for saying those words/coming home so late.